The Minister of Transportation, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi has charged Abuja Transport and Aviation Correspondents (ATACA) to attract international investors to the transportation sector through effective reportage.
Amaechi who was represented by the Director Press and Public Relation, Mr. Eric Ojiekwe, at the unveiling of the maiden ATACA magazine in Abuja said, the initiative is commendable. He added that the publications would go a long way in boosting infrastructural development in the country.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions ATACA made towards railway projects in the country.
The Minister further charged the journalists to continue to collaborate with the Ministry as more needs to be achieved.
”I want to commend you on the magazine and appeal to you to keep the flag of reportage flying,” he said.
Representing the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the Director of Press Dr James Odaudu, also commended ATACA for a job well done, by coming up with the publication.
He added that, the magazine avails the association opportunity to narrate its story the appropriate way.
”I congratulate you for this effort and I make a commitment to you that this magazine will enjoy our patronage, if there is subscription, the ministry will subscribe.
”I also wish to thank you for the support the ministry has enjoyed from the association; the level of support we have enjoyed cannot be quantified.
”We thank you for particularly supporting the ministry’s flagship programme, we plead with you that as we go into the implementation stage of the roadmap that you will remain with us.
”Criticise us if need be and when we get it right, you should do well to continue to tell that to the public.
”We congratulate you once more and pledge to support ATACA in any way we can and urge that you use this medium for constructive criticism and not to attack people,” he added.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Koko, praised the association for the initiative.
Koko, represented by the General Manager of NPA, Abuja liaison office, Mr Edward Dauda, said the magazine would enlighten Nigerians on issues in the maritime industry and transportation in general.
”You have done so well. I’m happy for the relationship between us and the association.
`’Not everyone knows the difference between Customs and the NPA, so you need to do a lot of work to enlighten the public about the different agencies in the maritime sector.
”We are going to subscribe to the magazine, the quality is good, the price is fair and I think a lot of people will be eager to subscribe.”
Representing Captain Rabiu Hamisu, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Morris Anozie said the magazine would bring value to the society and increase knowledge of the sector.
He said FAAN was determined to strengthen security in all airports across the country to kick out touts within the airport vicinities.
Earlier, the ATACA Chairman, Mr Chris Agabi, said the magazine is a first of its kind and one which every stakeholder in the industry would look forward to having in their shelves.
He said the magazine would be produced on a quarterly basis and would keep the public abreast with current happenings in the transport and aviation sector.
He said: ”I will like to assure both ministries of the association’s commitment and support when necessary through our reportage.
”We are proud of what we have achieved and we assure our stakeholders that we will not relent but keep advancing and innovating.’’
ATACA is made up of Abuja based Transport and Aviation correspondents. The Association which was formed over five years ago, has not only grown but has made so much impacts in the transport and aviation sectors in the country.
